Fiorentina midfielder admits Juventus favourites for Serie A title

Fiorentina midfielder Borja Valero has admitted that rivals Juventus will start the new Serie A season as favourites for the league title again.

The 28-year-old believes that the Turin giants have done well to bring in both Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez this summer, and as a result should be regarded as favourites to clinch a third consecutive Scudetto.

“Juve have made a great signing,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport when quizzed on Juve’s purchase of Llorente as reported by Goal.com. “Unfortunately for us, he will help Juve to more trophies.

“With Llorente and Tevez, Antonio Conte’s club are, more than ever, favorites to win the Scudetto again.”

His comments come after the fixture list for the 2013/14 season was announced on Monday evening, with Antonio Conte’s men facing a difficult start to the campaign.

They take on Sampdoria in the first game of the season, the only team to beat them both home and away last season, before clashes with Torino, AC Milan and Fiorentina are piled up together along with Champions League games at the end of September.

Club director Beppe Marotta revealed his belief that the Lega could do a better job at helping the clubs in European action, but looks forward to the new challenges of the season ahead.

Nevertheless, Valero paid tribute to the Viola after their understanding following the loss of his mother this summer, and he believes that his success with the club will help lead more of his countrymen to Florence.

“It’s been hard, but staying at home, in my pain, would not help me so I preferred to reach out to my team-mates immediately. Fiorentina is now my second family.

“Many of my countrymen ask me about Fiorentina. Many great players would want to come to Fiorentina. I’m happy to have paved the way for them. This may be the most important season of my career,” he concluded.

Following the signings of the likes of Joaquin and Mario Gomez along with the return of Giuseppe Rossi, Fiorentina are widely regarded as the dark horses for the title next year, and Valero will undoubtedly hope to be pulling the strings in midfield.